An Instant War, Just Add Chat: The Growth of Instant Messaging Technology

Just as there was a steadily growing war for dominance between Web-Browsers during the 1990's, there has been a similar battle within the microcosm of the Instant Messaging (IM) world. And like the larger browser war, the area of IM technologies has had a snowball beginning, a proliferation of initial players and capabilities, large corporations playing hardball politics with their popularity strategies, and, as with every new freedom or technology, new areas for potential risks. In the following discussion, the background, major players, IM capabilities, competitive environment, security issues, recommended solutions, and future outlook will be explored. The purpose of the information presented here is to provide the reader with a rich synthesis of observations and ideas, encourage the reader to evaluate their current technological environment, and spur one to explore what additional work may need to be done in this security issue.